Story Highlights

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the presidential election less than two months away, U.S. registered voters say Donald Trump is better able to handle economic issues -- such as employment and taxes -- than Hillary Clinton. However, these voters see Clinton as better suited than Trump on issues such as the treatment of minority groups, social issues, foreign affairs, education and immigration. Overall, of the 17 issues that Gallup asked registered voters about, Clinton leads Trump on 10.

Registered Voters' Perceptions of Which Candidate Is Best Able to Handle Key Issues

Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would better handle each of the following issues.

Prefer Hillary Clinton

Prefer Donald Trump

Advantage

%

%

pct. pts.

The treatment of minority groups in this country

65

30

Clinton +35

Climate change

62

29

Clinton +33

Social issues such as gay marriage and abortion

63

33

Clinton +30

Foreign affairs

61

35

Clinton +26

Education

61

36

Clinton +25

Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act

56

41

Clinton +15

Immigration

55

42

Clinton +13

The distribution of income and wealth in the U.S.

50

44

Clinton +6

Trade with other nations

51

47

Clinton +4

Terrorism and national security

48

47

Clinton +1

The federal budget deficit

44

53

Trump +9

Government regulation of Wall Street and banks

43

52

Trump +9

The size and efficiency of the federal government

44

52

Trump +8

Gun policy

45

52

Trump +7

Taxes

45

51

Trump +6

Employment and jobs

47

51

Trump +4

The economy

47

50

Trump +3

Gallup, Sept. 14-18, 2016

While Clinton leads Trump on only three more issues total (10 for Clinton, seven for Trump), her average advantage far outpaces his. Clinton leads by an average of 19 percentage points, while Trump's average advantage is seven points.

The disparity in leads between Clinton and Trump in these policy spheres exceeds the gap between the major-party candidates in the two most recent presidential elections. In September 2008, John McCain led Barack Obama on six issues by an average of 12 points, while Obama led McCain on four issues by an average of nine points. In September 2012, Obama led Mitt Romney on seven issues by an average of 11 points -- driven largely by a 26-point advantage on social issues -- whereas Romney's lead on two issues averaged nine points.

Trump Weaker Among Republicans Than Clinton Is Among Democrats

Trump receives less support on these policy issues among registered Republicans than Clinton receives among registered Democrats. Republicans choose Trump over Clinton by an average of 71 points. Meanwhile, Clinton's advantage over Trump among Democrats across all policy spheres averages 81 points.

Among registered Republicans, Trump receives especially weak support on social issues, the treatment of minorities and climate change -- issues on which about three in 10 Republicans say Clinton is better suited. On economic issues -- such as taxes, the economy and the federal budget deficit -- Trump scores especially strongly among his political compatriots, with almost nine in 10 Republicans preferring him to Clinton.

Clinton's weakest point among registered Democrats is on the issue of government regulation of Wall Street and banks, on which slightly less than one-fifth of Democrats prefer Trump. However, in all other policy spheres, no fewer than eight in 10 Democrats say Clinton would be better able than Trump to handle the issue.

Perceptions of Which Candidate Is Best Able to Handle Key Issues Among Registered Voters, by Partisan Identification

Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would better handle each of the following issues.

Trump's advantage among Republicans

Clinton's advantage among Democrats

Advantage among independents

pct. pts.

pct. pts.

pct. pts.

The distribution of income and wealth in the U.S.

72

82

Clinton +1

Immigration

74

87

Clinton +10

Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act

73

93

Clinton +10

Education

60

94

Clinton +28

Trade with other nations

74

72

Clinton +3

Foreign affairs

53

85

Clinton +33

Social issues such as gay marriage and abortion

46

88

Clinton +37

Climate change

35

87

Clinton +38

The treatment of minority groups in this country

43

96

Clinton +41

The economy

88

77

Trump +10

Employment and jobs

87

79

Trump +16

The size and efficiency of the federal government

87

72

Trump +16

Government regulation of Wall Street and banks

76

61

Trump +20

The federal budget deficit

88

72

Trump +21

Gun policy

85

78

Trump +21

Terrorism and national security

77

77

Trump +7

Taxes

88

70

Trump +8

Gallup, Sept. 14-18, 2016

Independents strongly prefer Clinton to Trump on the treatment of minority groups in the U.S. (+41), climate change (+38), social issues (+37) and foreign affairs (+33). On immigration -- an issue central to Trump's campaign -- independents choose Clinton over Trump.

Trump's advantages over Clinton among independents reflect some of his strongest issues among Republicans. He leads Clinton on the budget deficit (+21), gun policy (+21) and government regulation of Wall Street (+20). However, on issues where Trump leads Clinton among independents, he averages a 15-point advantage, compared with Clinton's 22-point average advantage on issues where she leads.

Clinton Leads Trump on Nearly All Issues Among Young Americans

Both campaigns have struggled to resonate with young Americans, as both candidates' favorable ratings are lowest among young voters. When 18- to 34-year-olds are asked which candidate they believe to be best suited to handle particular policy issues, younger voters largely prefer Clinton over Trump. For issues on which Clinton leads, her advantage averages 31 points. In fact, young adults choose Clinton over Trump on nearly all issues that Gallup asks about. The only issue where young voters choose Trump over Clinton is on the regulation of Wall Street and banks (+7).

Young U.S. Registered Voters' Perceptions of Which Candidate Is Best Able to Handle Key Issues

Regardless of which presidential candidate you support, please tell me if you think Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would better handle each of the following issues.

Prefer Hillary Clinton

Prefer Donald Trump

Advantage

%

%

pct. pts.

Terrorism and national security

57

38

Clinton +19

Gun policy

50

47

Clinton +3

Immigration

67

30

Clinton +37

Healthcare and the Affordable Care Act

68

28

Clinton +40

Foreign affairs

72

25

Clinton +47

The federal budget deficit

51

47

Clinton +4

Education

75

22

Clinton +53

Social issues such as gay marriage and abortion

76

19

Clinton +57

Climate change

79

15

Clinton +64

Employment and jobs

52

45

Clinton +7

The economy

53

45

Clinton +8

The size and efficiency of the federal government

57

40

Clinton +17

Trade with other nations

60

38

Clinton +22

The distribution of income and wealth in the U.S.

60

36

Clinton +24

The treatment of minority groups in this country

81

16

Clinton +65

Government regulation of Wall Street and banks

44

51

Trump +7

Taxes

49

49

Tie

Based on 18- to 34-year-olds who are registered to vote

Gallup, Sept. 14-18, 2016

Bottom Line

Americans cite the economy and unemployment as some of the most important problems facing the country. While Trump leads Clinton among registered voters in terms of which candidate can best handle these issues, his advantage is relatively small. And among young adults, Clinton leads Trump by seven or eight points on these issues.

Trump, meanwhile, continues to emphasize his stance on immigration. "Immigration" is still one of the most frequently used words Americans use to describe what they've recently heard about Trump. However, registered voters overall and independents prefer Clinton to Trump on the immigration issue by margins of 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted Sept. 14-18, 2016, on the Gallup U.S. Daily survey, with a random sample of 1,033 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. For results based on the total sample of 931 registered voters, the margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Americans name the economy, dissatisfaction with government and unemployment as the greatest problems facing the U.S. Americans trust the GOP (42%) slightly more than the Democratic Party (38%) to handle the most important problem.